One night only: Sam Keith’s “Disappearing Dreams”

A local artist and a local establishment are teaming up to present an art show of a different color. No whitewashed walls or security guards manning the door here, just artwork from local artists hanging from mismatched antique bookcases lined with new and used books.

Artist Sam Keith — presenting his show “Disappearing Dreams” at the Book Bazaar at this month’s Mildred Building First Thursday — divides his time between his houses in East Texas and Colorado. Having been involved in art

most of his life, only in the past 15 years has he started to seriously put his art out there.

After retiring from his chemical engineering career about 12 years ago, Keith began to much of the art he had been steadily working on and accumulating. He now treats his artwork as his life and his profession.

“I’ve spent considerable time looking for ‘the light,’ both in painting and photography, as well as in life,” Keith said.

He started painting with watercolors in the ‘90s and moved into acrylics after a few years.

“My style has evolved more and more,” he said. “My painting comes from within; it is a product of passions and values.”

All of Keith’s art — whether paintings, mixed media or fine art photography — is verypersonal, exploring feelings and emotions. He loosely describes his style as “objective expressionism,” where the subject is seldom the focus of his work.

Having studied painting and drawing with Jerry Newman, watercolor with Frank Gerrietts and Don Andrews, mixed media with Stephen Quiller and photography with Keith Carter, Tony O’Brien and Linde Waidhofer, Sam Keith’s work reflects a range of influence, experience and emotion.

The “Disappearing Dreams” show will combine Keith’s paintings and photography.

“I like the way that this show moves,” he said. “There is certainly a complex group of feelings and emotions in this show in both the paintings and the photography. It’s going to be a little different.”

Very grateful for art lovers, Keith knows how important it is to have residents who patronize and appreciate local artists. He had artwork up in the former Carlo’s for five years, and he agrees that if any one commercial venture kept him going and allowed him to keep working on his art, it was that restaurant. He says that an artist understands the importance of a local fan base, and Keith usually has one or two shows a year in Beaumont, eager to share his art with local supporters.

John Roberts — owner and operator of Book Bazaar — is a preservationist at heart. He wanted to house his business in the Mildred because, as he explained, for a city to be a city, it has to maintain a downtown.

Four short statements that, while straightforward, do encompass all that is Book Bazaar. This little book shop has more character than an entire chain of big boxes.

Lining the shelves of Book Bazaar are books that would make even the snobbiest book snob drool: first editions, rare and out-of-print books, classic works, sets, architecture and design, art and the occult, to name a few.

Roberts hosts a monthly artist signing in conjunction with First Thursdays at the Mildred Building.

“I am very particular about who I let come in for a signing,” he said. “I focus on composition, how they execute and how they frame.”

So, support local art. Support local businesses. And have an enlightening and engaging time while you’re at it.